Duke Tuition & Cost · 2026–27
Tuition is what Duke University charges for instruction. Cost of attendance is Duke's estimated total annual amount for an undergraduate living on campus, adding room, board, and standard fees ($22,857 combined). These are Duke's current published 2026–27 figures, approved by the Board of Trustees at its February 2026 meeting.
But that's not necessarily what your family will pay.
Financial aid changes the price dramatically.
Duke's Carolinas Financial Aid Initiative, launched in 2023 and continuing for 2026–27, publishes specific commitments for undergraduate students who are legal residents of North Carolina or South Carolina. Duke also meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted undergraduates and is need-blind for U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens.
Full tuition grant. Renewable across four undergraduate years as long as residency and income qualifications are maintained.
Full tuition grant plus additional grant aid for housing, meals, and other campus expenses. No loans required in the aid package.
For students who are not residents of North Carolina or South Carolina, the Carolinas Initiative does not apply, but Duke still meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted undergraduates through its general need-based aid program. Approximately half of Duke's undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, and roughly 21% of a recent entering class received grants covering full tuition. Duke's aid packages for students receiving need-based aid do not require loans. Duke also awards athletic scholarships and a small number of merit-based endowed scholarships.
Source: Duke University Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support — Initiative for Students from the Carolinas. Income thresholds and eligibility apply to admitted undergraduates whose legal residence is North Carolina or South Carolina.
But those policies still don't tell you what Duke will cost your family.
So what will Duke cost your family?
Published prices don't answer that. Your number depends on the aid you receive, what your family can contribute, and how much is left to cover.
And if you need to borrow some of it?
The real cost of college isn't just the four years. It's what that borrowing could mean every month for the next 20 years.
See My Duke Estimate→Two minutes. Free. No account needed.
About these numbers
Published tuition and cost of attendance shown at the top of this page are Duke University's 2026–27 figures, as approved by the Duke Board of Trustees at its February 2026 meeting and reported by Duke University communications. Undergraduate tuition is $73,740 and room, board, and standard fees combine to $22,857, for a total cost of attendance of $96,597. The Board's approval represents a 4.95% increase over the 2025–26 total cost of attendance ($92,042). For students receiving need-based financial aid, Duke's stated policy is that tuition increases are offset by adjusted aid packages, so aided families whose circumstances remain constant typically see no increase in what they pay.
The Carolinas Financial Aid Initiative statements shown in the section above are Duke's own current published aid policy, as posted on the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support's Initiative for Students from the Carolinas page. The initiative was launched in 2023 and continues for 2026–27. Eligibility requires that the student's legal residence be in North Carolina or South Carolina. Income thresholds are based on total family income; families whose income fluctuates have their income verified each year. If a family's income exceeds the applicable threshold, the tier commitment no longer applies for that year, though Duke still commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need. If a student's family moves to another state after enrollment, the student retains eligibility. For students outside North Carolina and South Carolina, Duke's general need-based aid program meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. Duke's need-blind admissions policy applies to U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens; in 2024, Duke settled an antitrust lawsuit related to alleged prior admissions practices without admitting wrongdoing, and Duke publicly maintains its need-blind commitment. Approximately half of Duke's undergraduates receive some form of financial assistance. Duke also awards athletic scholarships and a small number of merit-based endowed scholarships, which are separate from need-based aid.
The CollegeClearly estimator translates your family's specific cost into a standardized 20-year monthly financial commitment using CollegeClearly's own repayment model, applied identically to every school we cover so families can compare on the same basis. It is a comparison framework, not a specific loan product.
Figures are for informational purposes only and are not financial advice. Verify final costs with Duke University's Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support and your family's specific aid letter.